Still can't tolerate tret despite trying for years. Switch to a retinol?

[pharmachameleon]

My skin is still peeling with tret even after 5-6 years of trying to use it. I do like the glow I get from it just before it starts peeling but the dryness is just a nightmare! I'm on tretinoin 0.05%/niacinamide 4%/azaleic acid 4% from Dermatica. I have had lower strength tret 0.015% IIRC and it makes no difference though I will contact Dermatica to ask for a lower strength.
I have used tret just on its own either from Dermatica or bought in Spain but still causes peeling.
I've tried only applying once a week.
I've tried buffering it.
I've tried 'slugging' on the nights I don't wear tret.
I have tried applying Vaseline before I apply tret on the areas that are more prone to peeling around my nose, my nose to mouth lines and under my mouth on my chin area but no difference!
I've tried using no other actives for a few months while using tret but again no difference. The only other active I'm using at the moment is Geek and Gorgeous Vit C in the morning.
I'm currently applying tretinoin maybe 2 or 3 times weekly and it's awful when I try and apply foundation as it sticks on all the dry, flaky skin.
I think I need to give up don't I?
Could anyone recommend a retinoid cream that might give me the tret glow but will be gentler on my skin? I'd rather use a strong one as my skin is used to tret so I don't want to waste money on a weak one. Help!

I'm on tret and hydroquinone for melasma. I'm peeling terribly and my face powder looks shocking. In fact I look shocking ! I am at a loss with this pigmentation; it seems to be taking over my face. I'm menopausal and on HRT with coil.

Can anyone resonate? Bloody sick of looking dreadful.

How long have you been on it? Unfortunately the only thing is to push through really. I remember I started using it in winter, so at least I could wear a scarf up around my face to hide the worst of it at work. It was horrible though.

Apparently niacinamide can help reduce irritation from tretinoin, and they are good when used together. Niacinamide also helps with hyperpigmentation so you could ask it to be added to your prescription.

Im on same as you OP with Skin and Me but my Tret dose is 0.006. I've got sensitive skin and though dose was so low it won't work. My skin flaked for about 10 days and is fine now. Also I was told to moisturise before and after the tret.

I found double cleansing and layering moisturiser helped.

10% niaminicde has really helped with irritation, I basically spray it on my face let it dry apply tret and then a few layers of 10% urea cream with cerave over the top. I found double cleansing helpful, I give my face a gentle rub after rinsing the oil cleanse and the dry skin balls up then foam cleanser. For me gentle methods of exfoliation is the only thing that helps with the peeling. Also getting rid of anything with HA in it. It made my dry skin way worse. I still flake but not in the noticeable way it did before.

Interesting @Noicant. I have used HA for years but may give it a miss and see how I go.
Also which niacinamide spray do you use? I have 4% in my Dermatica prescription too.

Have you tried Skin + Me? It seems that some people prefer it to Dermatica and vice versa. I get on real well with Dermatica and am currently on 0.015% after 10 weeks but I was a pretty avid retinol user before I started.

If you give up on the tret entirely, I strongly recommend the combination of Sunday Riley A+ (a strong retinol) with Good Genes. The American version of Good Genes is lactic acid and a million times better than the UK Glycolic Acid versa. Alternating A+ and GG every night will give you a beautiful glow. I only moved to tret because I wanted more.

I’m on the tret/hydroquinone combination as well. As someone said earlier, adding niacinamide really helps. I prefer a 20% niacinamide from Paula’s Choice and a Sunday Riley ceramide rich moisturiser. Ceramides help to repair your skin barrier and really help counteract tretinoin.

In addition to the above, I also use a Dermatica 10% Azelaic acid which I bought separately. Azelaic acid also works wonders on hyperpigmentation and has really helped to give me a great glow.

I use the skin and me and have built up slowly to a 0.027% tret content (+niacinamide 4% and azelaic acid 4%) with no side effects. I do however use quite a heavy moisturiser after and sometimes before and after. Just a cheap one called Manuka rescue from Dr Organics. I also use a day cream with high spf. I have very sensitive skin so was expecting reactions.

If you or anyone else wants to use my code you can get first month free to try it instead. EMW8TTH.

@Mumsanetta I have Azeliac acid 20% on prescription. Maybe I should give it a go?

@Runaround50 sorry mine is 20% Azelaic acid, not 20%. Also a Dermatica one but I bought it on Amazon. I definitely think you should give it a go - I use the AA every morning but then every other night I swap between using tret + niacinamide + ceramide cream and AA + ceramide cream. Tret is sometimes prescribed with AA but I prefer not to use both on the same night given that my AA is a higher percentage one.

It took about 3 days for me to notice the improvement after removing HA. Not saying it will work for you but it’s worth a go before you give up the tret.

www.stylevana.com/en_GB/one-thing-niacinamide-10-150ml.html

I put it in a spray bottle and just spritz it after double cleansing. I’ve only just started doing this but it’s definitely helped. The general consensus is that over 4% doesn’t make a difference but it did seem to for me.

I’m trying to take a more K beauty approach to skin atm so layers of hydration rather than just thick moisturiser. Unfortunately I had to ditch some products because I didn’t realise that sodium hyaluronate was basically the same thing so need to get shopping. Right now I’m using bog standard vaseline lotion, sebmed 10% urea (not fond of this tbh) and cerave as last layer (this does have HA in it but it seems to make minimal difference to me, possibly because it’s the last layer). I have super dry skin so can’t really get away with one layer, I’m only on 0.25% every third day but taking it slow to try to protect my moisture barrier.

Honestly VASELINE has been my biggest game changer . Vaseline over my tret . My derm recommended it

I also wash gently with a flannel when I cleanse . More Vaseline !!

I’m interested in finding out more about tret, currently using skin and me with azelic acid and niaminacide. Can I ask why everyone thinks it’s so necessary when you’re all suffering side effects? Does it help with wrinkles? Im so intrigued!

Does your skin + me not have tret?

Retinol is the only product clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and even skin tone. But I guess you have to be able to tolerate it. Personally, i think it’s a wonder ingredient and at 37 don’t have a single wrinkle!

No tret, suffering from hormonal acne so my prescription is for that although I’d like to do something for my fine lines which are appearing! Just checked and my prescription is clyndimiacin and niaminacide.

Thanks @Noicant. I'll give the 10% niacinamide a try and see how I get on. I have the Eucerin Urea repair cream so I'll keep applying that too.
@stevalnamechanger I'm v wary of putting Vaseline over tret. I think Vaseline is an occlusive so I imagine it would really increase the absorption of tret?? I could be wrong though!